Should We Bring In Cover For Luis & Gonzalez?

[RafaShanks]

Forgetting the shambles of the game for a second tonight, the most haunting aspect for me were the serious injuries sustained by Garcia and Gonzalez and the impact these could have on our remaining season, in terms of leaving us well short of attacking options, especially if other players also pick up injuries.

 

I heard tonight on SSN that Neill's agent saying that Blackburn will not let him leave regardless of all the offers that had come in. If this is true, this could prove a bigger headache not only as possible cover for Finnan, but his versatility along the back line (especially LB).

 

I think we can forget losing Warnock in this window, as he could cover both left back and left midfield if needs be.

 

Also Momo and Zenden are close to full recovery. I suppose that Zenden could also fill in on the left hand side if necessary.

 

Aurelio could fill in on the left hand side, but his injury prone track record during his Valencia spell and with us this season hardly fills me with any confidence.

 

Anyone know when Harry is likely to return?

 

We should be alright on the right, with Pennant, possibly Stevie (with Momo's impending return & even Maschereno).

 

The question is does Rafa bring in short term cover or even attempt to bring in a left winger earlier than anticpated, as I would have thought he would have gone for one this summer.

[Swipe]

He'll surely go out and buy now.

 

He has to.

 

if only for the Barca game.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

fortunately, the left is where we are best stocked. Incredible really that with garcia, zenden, kewell and gonzalez out, we can still field riise or aurelio in left midfield and have cover for lb with warnock.

 

I think those three will do fine until Kewell gets back (he is the earliest to return judging by rafa's comments, I assume).

 

He'll surely go out and buy now.

 

He has to.

 

if only for the Barca game.

 

We won the european cup with Riise at LM.

 

we'll manage.

[Swipe]

fortunately, the left is where we are best stocked. Incredible really that with garcia, zenden, kewell and gonzalez out, we can still field riise or aurelio in left midfield and have cover for lb with warnock.

 

I think those three will do fine until Kewell gets back (he is the earliest to return judging by rafa's comments, I assume).

We won the european cup with Riise at LM.

 

we'll manage.

 

No we won't.

 

Rafa needs to spend a bit this month.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

No we won't.

 

were you saying Riise wasn't good enough to play there in 2005?

 

He did well when moved there. He can do so again and if not we also have Aurelio.

 

There's no point in going out to buy another squad player when we already have so many on the left. I doubt we'll manage to panic buy a top quality left winger in january.

[Earl Hafler]

-----Gerrard---Xabi---Aurelio-----

-----------------Kuyt----------------

-------Bellamy---------Crouch

 

Pennant / Gerrard---Xabi---Sissoko---Aurelio / Riise

----------------forward-----forward---------------------

 

We can still field a decent midfield but we have lost two creative players and i think Rafa has to buy or loan if at all possible. SWP ? Over Jose's dead body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that has cheered me up !

Edited January 9, 2007 by George Kaplan

[Swipe]

were you saying Riise wasn't good enough to play there in 2005?

 

He did well when moved there. He can do so again and if not we also have Aurelio.

 

There's no point in going out to buy another squad player when we already have so many on the left. I doubt we'll manage to panic buy a top quality left winger in january.

 

Not saying a thing about Riise.

 

I think with two bad injuries tonight, and with the fact that Barca is now our biggest game since Istanbul, then i think Rafa should look to make a few more signings than he previously planned.

 

may involve talking a risk (someone like Young for example) but IMO, he has to.

[meepins]

Well I'm hoping that if there are any new players brought in, they will be first teamers not squad players.Not very realistic for a mid season transfer .

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Not saying a thing about Riise.

 

I think with two bad injuries tonight, and with the fact that Barca is now our biggest game since Istanbul, then i think Rafa should look to make a few more signings than he previously planned.

 

may involve talking a risk (someone like Young for example) but IMO, he has to.

 

I'd sooner play Riise against barca than someone like Young.

 

I don't think it's feasible to go out and buy someone when two months from now, we will have Zenden and Kewell back and probably not much later, Gonzalez and Garcia.

 

Zenden and Warnock may not have a future with us beyond this season but most likely all the others do.

 

It would be a really good idea to bring in someone like Neill though and let Aurelio and Riise battle it out for the left midfield spot until the others return. I am much more concerned about leftback than I am left midfield when it comes to the barca game.

[Teigen]

I think Rafa may bring someone in even before saturday's match against Watford. We are really in lack of people now.

[smokescreen]

I think Rafa may bring someone in even before saturday's match against Watford. We are really in lack of people now.

 

WTF is up with your username?

[Billy Talbot]

IF any positive can be taken out of these injuries at all - it's that we should sign a new player. Especially if Garcia is out for any length of time.

 

hopefully he'll improve us. Whoever he is...